Process of etching by electrolysis on relief or intaglio.



s rairnr tacit.

AL'BJEIREL D. LAPOINTE, 0F SIOUX CITY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO BASTIAN &

SIOUX CITY, IOWA, A FIRM.

LAPOINTE, OF

PROCESS OF ETCHING BY ELEGTROLYSIS ON RELIEF OR INTAGLIO.

No Drawing.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. LA- IOINTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Noodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Proc The object of the invention is to render the process more expeditious and considerably cheaper.

In the process of etching by means of known solutions it has heretofore been nec cssary to leave the plates fora considerable time in the solution, while the receptacle containing the solution is agitated, and the attendance of one person is required for each plate. plates may be attended by one person, the plates remain in the solution without agitation and much less time is required for the etching process. The number of plates that can be etched at one time and attended by one person is determined by the number of amperes of electricity generated by the ma-.

in the'solution as is necessary to make the solution weigh thirty-five per cent. metal weight, Baum test] The plates are then connected with the positive pole of the generator, and a plate of zinc, copper, brass or carbon is connected with the negative pole in the solution. The plates are required to remain in the solution fifteen minutes or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 6, 1910. Serial No. 565,219.

By means of my process several Patented Feb, 14L, ieii.

more, the depth of relief'obtained being de termmcd by the length of time the plates remain in the solution. The current of electricity passing through the solution fro1ii the positive to the negative pole of the genorator conveys the deposit from the zinc plate at the positive pole to the plate at the negative pole which receives the deposit, causing the relief of the print. For etching copper or brass plates a solution of niirate of copper at the same proportions and weight is used. When the etching process completed the prints are removed and the solution may be used again indefinitely for the same purpose. The solution will not deteriorate, as the acid-in the solution is 6 not taken up by the plates.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process of etching on metals, which comprises applying a current of electricity to prints on zinc, copper or brass, plaeed in a solution of a nitrate salt of the metal used, substantially as described.

2. The process of etching on metals, comprising the application of the positive pole of an electric current to prints on zinc, copper or brass plates in a solution of a nitrate salt of the metal used, and connecting the negative pole of the current to an electrode in the. solution, substantially as herein dc scribed.

3. The process of etching on, metals, com- I In witness whereof I have hereunto su-bscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT D. LAPOINTE. VVitnesses':

.ll. C. Genomes, J. S. NELSON. 

